There were $705.2 billion in retail food services sales, virtually unchanged from the previous month but up 3.0% from April 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Core retail sales—excluding automobiles and gasoline—edged down 0.1% this month but increased 3.5% for the year.
Retail trade sales were virtually unchanged from March, but up 2.7% above last year.
Sales at clothing & clothing accessory stores and food & beverages stores were up 1.6% and 0.8% from the previous month, respectively. In contrast, sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores and nonstore retailers were down 0.9% and 1.2% in April, respectively. Furniture & home furnishing stores were down 8.4% from year-ago levels while nonstore retailers were up 7.5% in the same period. Year-over-year sales were also up for miscellaneous store retailers (6.8%) and food services & drinking places (5.5%) from April 2023.
Sales at gasoline stations were up 3.1% from March, and up 4.0% compared to prior year levels.
Read the Census release.
